AEE 2611: How to Direct Someone's Attention With Enthusiasm

Summary

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All Ears English Podcast – Episode 2611

Title: How to Direct Someone's Attention With Enthusiasm
Hosts: Lindsay McMahon and Michelle Kaplan
Release Date: May 5, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Lindsay and Michelle explore engaging ways to direct someone’s attention in English—especially with energy and excitement. They highlight the importance of enthusiasm for building connections and introduce listeners to practical phrases like “check it out,” “look at this,” and “see that.” The episode is filled with real-world examples, cultural insights, and lively banter, helping learners pick up not only language skills but the spirit behind the words.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power of Enthusiasm in Connection

• Enthusiasm as Connection Tool:
  Michelle opens by emphasizing that enthusiasm is essential for connection, especially when sharing something exciting.

  • [01:00] “Enthusiasm is a key piece needed for connection, especially when you see something you are excited about.” — Michelle

• Why Enthusiasm Matters:
  Both hosts agree: When you ask someone to “check it out,” you’re not just pointing something out; you’re inviting them into your excitement and implicitly expressing confidence in both yourself and the person's interest.

  • [04:43] “I think this shows enthusiasm and it shows that, you know, the person will be interested... To me, it shows a little bit of confidence. Right. I think you'll be excited too.” — Michelle

2. Phrases to Direct Attention (and How to Use Them)

• Core Phrase – “Check it out”:

  • Used for drawing attention to something nearby or shareable (visually, aurally, etc.).
  • Common in both casual conversation and work emails.
  • [02:34] “Check it out. It's kind of fun to say that, right?” — Lindsay
  • [05:09] “You can also say check out something, right?” — Michelle

• Nuanced Alternatives:

  • “Look at this/that/those/these” – Used for direct attention, shows excitement or surprise.
    • [08:03] “Look at this. I finished my project.” — Lindsay
  • “Check this out” – Implies something particularly noteworthy or rare.
    • [08:17] “Check this out. I found my diary from middle school.” — Michelle
    • [08:46] “The diary is more of a rare object...the thing is a little bit more noteworthy than just check it out.” — Lindsay
  • “See this/see that” – Used to highlight or show something special.
    • [09:52] “See this? It's a picture of my great, great grandmother.” — Michelle

• Other Examples:

  • [05:29] “Check out this guitar solo. It's incredible.” — Michelle
  • [05:29] “Check out her nails. Aren't they gorgeous?” — Lindsay
  • [06:25] “Check out my moves. I've been practicing my three point shot for weeks.” — Michelle

3. Contextual Rules and Nuances

• Presence Matters:
  The thing you want someone to “check out” should be present or easily accessible—either physically, visually, or audibly.

  • [03:50] “You have to be in the presence of the thing, right?” — Lindsay

• Cultural Differences:
  The hosts discuss how different cultures may focus on different cosmetic features (e.g., nails in Japan, dental work in the U.S.) and the potential impact on small talk topics.

  • [05:56] “In the US...teeth are super important, like dental work.” — Lindsay

• Confidence & Pride:
  Using phrases like these often signals confidence and personal pride in what’s being shared.

  • [07:06] “Something I'm proud of, I'm excited about.” — Lindsay
  • [07:31] “A discovery. So it really has a note of enthusiasm and maybe pride. Maybe pride too.” — Lindsay

4. Real-Life Role Play: A Safari Adventure

• The hosts use a safari as a fun scenario to demonstrate these expressions naturally in context.
• Sample Dialogue:
  • [10:26] Michelle: “All right, Lindsay, check it out. Those lions are running over there!”
  • [10:39] Lindsay: “Wow. Incredible.”
  • [10:40] Michelle: “Whoa. Whoa. Look at that.”
  • [10:44] Lindsay: “That cheetah is eating.”
  • [10:46] Michelle: “See that? I think there are some giraffes over there.”
  • [10:50] Lindsay: “That's so cute. Check this out. I can't believe my camera is so good.”

Takeaways from the Role Play:

• These expressions come up naturally, especially when sharing exciting or new experiences.
• Enthusiasm is conveyed not just by words, but by tone and delivery.
  • [13:01] “There are a lot of things in life that are really worth checking out and being excited about...” — Lindsay
  • [13:13] Michelle: “You have to match the excitement of the expression.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Enthusiasm and Confidence:
  [04:43] Michelle: “It shows a little bit of confidence. Right. I'm like, I think you'll be excited, too.”
• Matching Tone to Words:
  [13:13] Michelle: “You can say check it out until the cows go home. But if you just say check it out... No, like what? Like it just doesn't match. You have to match the excitement of the expression.”
• Discovery and Sharing:
  [12:14] Lindsay: “The coolest feeling when you...go to a place so exotic and different, and like, the first day you're just like, oh, God, check this out. Look at that.”
• Connection, Not Perfection:
  [13:24] Lindsay: “That's really the connection skill today: how to show enthusiasm and how to direct someone's attention to something in a very natural way.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:00] Importance of enthusiasm for connection
• [02:34] – [03:50] Introducing “check it out” and discussing its use
• [04:43] – [05:09] How these phrases show confidence and pride
• [05:29] – [06:25] More contextual examples (guitar solo, nails, moves)
• [08:03] – [09:52] “Look at this/that,” “Check this out,” “See this,” and subtle differences
• [10:26] – [11:48] Safari role play: All main phrases in natural context
• [13:01] – [13:24] Final takeaways and the importance of matching tone to enthusiasm

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Practical Tips for Listeners

• Use “check it out,” “look at this,” “see that,” and similar phrases to draw attention, but make sure your tone conveys real enthusiasm.
• Be present with what you’re sharing—make it tangible or immediate for your listener.
• These expressions work in both casual and professional contexts (“check it out” in work emails is common).
• Don’t be afraid to show excitement or pride when sharing discoveries—connection is built on shared moments of interest.

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In Closing

This episode encourages English learners to harness the power of enthusiasm in daily communication. Whether you’re sharing a discovery, pointing out a cool event, or sending a proud update, using direct attention phrases with genuine excitement not only improves your English but strengthens your connections with others.

“That’s really the connection skill today: how to show enthusiasm and how to direct someone’s attention to something in a very natural way. Love it.” – Lindsay ([13:24])

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For more on accent and clarity, check out episode 2590: “Three Tips to Keep Your Accent and Be Understood with Valerie Fridland.”

Transcript

[Lindsay McMahon]

This is an All Ears English podcast episode 2611 how to direct someone's attention with enthusiasm

[Podcast Host / Narrator]

welcome to the All Ears English podcast, downloaded more than 200 million times. Are you feeling stuck with your English? We'll show you how to become fearless and fluent by focusing on connection, not perfection, with your American hosts like Lindsay McMahon, the English adventurer, and Michelle Kaplan, the New York radio girl coming to you from Colorado and New York City, usa. To get real time transcripts right on your phone and create your personalized vocabulary list, try the All Ears English app for iOS and Android. Start your seven day free trial at allearsenglish.com forward/app.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Enthusiasm is a key piece needed for connection, especially when you see something you are excited about. In today's episode, learn how to bring people in on the excitement in English.

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[Lindsay McMahon]

Hey Michelle, how's it going?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Hi, Lindsay. Check it out. I got new earrings.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Very impressive. Very impressive, guys.

[Michelle Kaplan]

If you are watching on YouTube, you will see that I am not wearing any earrings. But for the purpose of the role play.

[Lindsay McMahon]

We were just kidding. Just joking around. Here, here.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Just joking, just joking.

[Lindsay McMahon]

But what's interesting here is what you said before you showed me your earrings. What did you say, Michelle?

[Michelle Kaplan]

I said check it out.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Check it out. It's kind of fun to say that, right?

[Michelle Kaplan]

It is.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yep.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah. So today we're gonna focus on how to tell someone to look at something in a very enthusiastic way to draw their attention to something.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yes, totally. So this could be drawing their attention to something visual or even something you're listening to. I mean, maybe check it out and then you hand them a headphone. Could be right. Or you turn up the volume on something. Yeah. And it could just be saying, you know, please pay attention to this. This is interesting. Yeah. Directing someone's attention to something. Right, Michelle?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah, yeah, exactly. And this is. I mean, you hear this all the time. This is extremely common. I use it. Lindsay, I'm sure you use it.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah. Even in. Even in work emails. I would use it to send you, like, if we got new reviews. I write for them to you. And we love reviews, by the way, guys, leave your review.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Whatever you listen, I would forward them to you.

[Lindsay McMahon]

I said, check it out. We got four new listener reviews. Right?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Exactly. Yes, exactly. Or here's another example. Check it out. The dress is on sale now. So maybe I've been waiting, we're shopping together and. And like, oh, wait, it's on sale.

[Lindsay McMahon]

But the key piece that I think is really important for our listeners to know about this phrase is that you have to be in. In the presence of the thing. Right? Right. You have to be in the presence of the thing, the dress. Maybe you're walking past the store and you see it on display. Or it can't just be like talking about a dress and you want to go to the mall. And unless you, like, see it in a catalog and say, oh, it's on sale. Do you know what I mean? It has to be around somewhere so someone can actually. Right.

[Michelle Kaplan]

You want to just sit. Say that conceptually.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Exactly. Yeah, yeah.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Or check it out. There's a new restaurant opening down the street. So again, the restaurant, we would either. Maybe it's possible. Maybe you're scrolling Instagram and you see an ad for it or you're actually walking.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Right.

[Michelle Kaplan]

You know, either one.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, exactly. Why do you think this is good for connection, Michelle?

[Michelle Kaplan]

I think this shows enthusiasm and it shows that, you know, the person will be interested in some way in what you have to show them. So it actually, to me, it shows a little bit of confidence. Right. I'm like, I. I think you'll be excited, too.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah.

[Michelle Kaplan]

I think you're interested.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Like, you have the confidence to say, hey, look at this thing. This is interesting to me. It probably will be to you too, right?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah. Yep, yep. And you can also say check out something. Right? Instead of just check it out, you can say check out something. So, for example, check out this guitar. So solo. It's incredible, right? We're listening to a song together, and I'm excited to have you hear it. And they say, oh, check out this guitar solo.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Exactly. Or check out her nails. Aren't they gorgeous? So this is again, you're just. You're again, drawing someone's attention to go over and look at the nails, Lindsay.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Oh, wait, we've talked about this before. I don't know if it was on the show or not, but do you get your nails done?

[Lindsay McMahon]

I did when I got married. Yeah, me too.

[Michelle Kaplan]

I think that may have been the last time.

[Lindsay McMahon]

I did it once for a photo shoot last year. So I'll do it like once a year if I have something where my hands are gonna matter.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

But no, honestly, it's interesting. When I traveled to Japan, I lived in Japan. I noticed, you know, if you take something like nails, there's a lot of emphasis on nails is what I noticed at that time. This was 20 years ago, so it might be different now. And I think in the US we might. I don't know, it might be less common, but it also depends on the person. Whereas here, like, teeth are super important, like dental work and things like that.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Which is not the same all over the world. So. Really interesting how these things can vary, don't you think?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Definitely these cosmetic things. Or check out my moves. I've been practicing my three point shot for weeks.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Love that.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

So there is a certain confidence, especially when you say check it out, right?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah. Right.

[Lindsay McMahon]

A certain level.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Just confidence in love, of life, I guess.

[Michelle Kaplan]

I mean, Lindsay, what might you tell someone? Like, check it out or check out this? Like, what are you excited about when you.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, if I've come up with something creative and I can show it physically, or if I've solved a problem or maybe I've cooked something and I'm proud of it. Something I'm proud of, I'm excited about.

[Michelle Kaplan]

You're proud of. Yeah, I like that.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah. For me, it's also. I realize I use this a lot because, you know, moving to a new area, when you find something new. Yeah. So there's always something, you know. Oh, wow. Check it out. Like, I didn't realize that this restaurant was here or something like that. Right, right.

[Lindsay McMahon]

A discovery. So it really has a note of enthusiasm and maybe pride. Maybe pride too.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right. Definitely.

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[Lindsay McMahon]

Okay, so other things we might say, like if I were to send you our new reviews, right? We might say, look at this, look at that, look at these, right? Look at this. I finished my project,

[Michelle Kaplan]

right? Or instead of check it out, you could also say, check this out, check this out. I found my diary from middle school. So, yeah, I'm not sure what the difference is there exactly, but I think it's maybe a little more emphatic. You're kind of taking a little more time to say it, right. Instead of just check it out, right?

[Lindsay McMahon]

This is.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Check this out.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Well, I also think that the thing. The.

[Michelle Kaplan]

This.

[Lindsay McMahon]

The diary is more of a rare object. Maybe like an unexpected rare object. Yeah, right. Like, if you. Let's say I want to go rock hunting in the mountains and I find this really rare rock, I might say, check this out. Look at this rock. Look how interesting it is with the veins and things. So the thing is a little bit more noteworthy than just check it out. I found a rock.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right. Lindsay, did you keep a diary when you were a kid?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, yeah, I definitely did. Yeah.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Do you have it? Do you know where it is?

[Lindsay McMahon]

No, no. I've lost all my diaries or thrown them out over the years, but I definitely feel like I just kind of. Today I went to school and I came home. It was just very basic.

[Michelle Kaplan]

You know, I used to write down, like, the time in which it took me to write the entry. Like, I would say, like, writing from 10:15 to 10:30. I don't know why.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Planning to be, like, a reporter or something. A reporter from the Middle East.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah. Everyone needs all of this information so they know that's funny.

[Lindsay McMahon]

So what else could we say, Michelle?

[Michelle Kaplan]

You could say see this or see that. Right? So see this? It's a picture of my great, great grandmother, for sure. Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

I mean, and. And again, these are flexible, right? So you have a lot of leeway, a lot of wiggle room in terms of what we use here. But I think the key theme that's arising for me, Michelle, is enthusiasm. Enthusiasm and maybe pride, Right? Yeah.

[Michelle Kaplan]

It's really, really interesting how we use all of these, but. Yeah. So let's do a role play. So, Lindsay, here we are on a safari.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Ooh, check this out. Right? Very cool. Something new. I love it.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yes, yes, exactly. Something new. All right, here we go. All right, Lindsay, check it out. Those lions are running over there.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Wow. Incredible.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Whoa. Whoa. Look at that.

[Lindsay McMahon]

That cheetah Is eating.

[Michelle Kaplan]

This is an amazing experience. See that? I think there are some giraffes over there.

[Lindsay McMahon]

That's so cute. Check this out. I can't believe my camera is so good.

[Michelle Kaplan]

So amazing shot.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Wow. Good. Okay, great. So that was fun. I feel like I went on a little safari with you, Michelle. A little mini vacation to Africa.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Or have you been on this party?

[Lindsay McMahon]

No, I would love to. One day. One day.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

So we started off by saying. You said, lindsay, check it out. Those lions are running over there. So you're seeing these lions running, and you're drawing my attention. And again, enthusiasm. If you're not enthusiastic on a safari, I don't know when you're going to be enthusiastic.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Then. Then you said, whoa, look at that. That cheetah is eating.

[Lindsay McMahon]

And then he said, this is an amazing experience. See that? I think there's some giraffes over there.

[Michelle Kaplan]

And then he said, oh, so cute. And then he said, check this out. I can't believe my camera is so good. So what am I talking about? What are you talking about?

[Lindsay McMahon]

I'm talking about the photo that I just took. Yeah. Probably in this scenario, I went ahead and I snapped a photo of those giraffes, and then. And now I'm saying, check this out. So it's not the drafts again. It's the first photo of the giraffes.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah. Yeah. Right. So interesting. And this sounded completely natural, you know, like using all of these. I mean, you. I mean, especially when you're traveling, you might say, oh, look at that. You're on a tour or something like that, you know, constantly. Look at that. Oh, my gosh, look at this. Right?

[Lindsay McMahon]

The coolest feeling when you. I don't know, you go to a place so many exotic and different, and like, the first day you're just like, oh, God, check this out. Look at that. I can't believe that. Look over there. You're like a kid in a candy store or something. It's true.

[Michelle Kaplan]

That's true.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah.

[Michelle Kaplan]

So, guys, check out episode 2590. We did three tips to keep your accent and be understood with Valerie Fridland. Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

That was the conversation that. That Aubry had with Valerie and can't wait for our listeners to listen and give us some feedback on that episode. Really good. Michelle. Today's takeaway for me is. Is about, well, showing enthusiasm in life. There are a lot of things in life that are really worth checking out and being excited about and highlighting like this, don't you think?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Oh, yeah. And again. And you should just as a side point, make sure that you reflect it and how your voice sounds. You're not going to get anyone's attention. You can say check it out until the cows go home. But if you say. If you just say check it out. Right. No, like what? Like it just doesn't match. You have to match the excitement of the expression.

[Lindsay McMahon]

And you should, because whatever you're saying, you want people to look at you.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Exactly.

[Lindsay McMahon]

It struck you as something interesting. Right. So yeah, there you go. So that's really the connection skill today is how to show enthusiasm and how to direct someone's attention to something. Okay. In a very natural way. Love it.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Exactly. All right, Lindsay. Well, this was fun. Hopefully we'll go on a safari one day together and I'll talk to you soon.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Sounds good, Michelle. Talk soon.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Bye. All right, bye.

[Podcast Host / Narrator]

Thanks for listening. To all ears.

[Lindsay McMahon]

English.

[Podcast Host / Narrator]

Would you like to know your English level? Take our two minute quiz. Go to allearsenglish.com fluency score. And if you believe in connection, not perfection, then hit subscribe now to make sure you don't miss anything. See you next time.

[Lindsay McMahon]

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